Dotun Ojuolape Kayode, known as Do2dtun or The Real Energy Gad, is a leading figure in Nigerian entertainment known for his infectious energy and charismatic presence. Beginning with a passion for radio at a young age, he has risen to prominence as Nigeria’s top hype man and media personality. His contributions have redefined the hype industry, earning him prestigious accolades such as the NEAs and Future Awards nominations. As an acclaimed OAP, hype man, video jockey, actor, and social commentator, Dotun opens up to The NATION’s TUNRAYO ILESANMI on several issues.
How do you see something you pioneered, hyping, being commercialized ?
I love longevity, the fact that I can see something I pioneered doing well. I like Jamie Foxx and Pharrell, I can relate with them because they are still making things happen…they can transition into anything. Even in Nigeria, you can see the transition of Don Jazzy and Mo Abudu’s careers, the only thing that connects these guys is legacy. You don’t want to leave the world and not leave a mark. So, I thought of what I could start and then commercialise it. I’m at my happiest seeing families live off the money made from the profession. It was called noise before and was a craft that was not respected. It could have been referred to as diamonds from the rocks, but people did not see it as diamonds. I’d go to clubs and gatherings to do it. Shout out to Nigeria Breweries, the first guy that put me on was Biyi, he was a brand manager at a time at the Nigerian Breweries. He saw something different and encouraged me to start something at Beer Village. Also, Ice Prince was the first guy who gave me a hype gig in London, and then Vector too, a lot of people came to Industry Nite and that was where they saw me. Shout-out to Olamide as well, he looked at the whole thing and took me on tours. So, it was positioning for me, I met the right people and it gave me a good opportunity. I did the dirt from the ground. Now seeing different people do it makes me proud. One other person who started it is Special Ed, he used to back up for MoHits then. Hype felt like thrash but I made it into something good.
Do you think hype men are gradually taking the roles of performing artistes?
We cannot take the position of artistes. Top of the list are DJs because if they don’t play the music, how would a hype man perform? So we are not taking the place, everyone has a place and what they can do. It’s a time when a lot of musicians have overpriced themselves. It’s still the same music when they perform and sometimes they lip-sync to it. You can knock out the fact that they made the music. The hype came at a time of need. When I hype, I infuse drums, bands, dancers and the artistry generally works to light up the mood. Some of us, hypemen, make good money and are still very affordable. At the end of the day, the connecting factor at parties is usually the DJ who is equally popular and also has a crowd. I’d also say, for every hype man, you have to respect the DJ…if the DJ doesn’t align with you, there’s nothing you can do. Even when you listen to the likes of Yinka Ayefele; the guy who talks in the background is a hype man, a pastor who preaches also has a hype man as well. So in everything that we do, there’s hype!
What inspired you to pursue a radio career?
Radio is a child love thing. I decided to pursue it as a career while I was a child. It was the reason why I majored in mass communication. I also liked the idea of branding, seeing things from scratch go to the next level. I majored in public relations and advertising and in that, I did Radio and TV as a course. I wanted to have an idea of other things. My dad used to buy me a transistor radio and I’d listen to music, and news and in fact, I would fall asleep with the radio in my ear. He was doing that because he wanted us to be current. He’d also buy various newspapers for us every Saturday and Sunday. He believed TELL Magazine was not biased so he would buy them for me. Also, NEWSWATCH was hardcore at the time and he bought it as well, they’d tell you as it is. My dad wanted me to be vast and he inspired my love for radio.
You are popularly referred to as the Energy Gad, so how have you been able to live up to the name over the years? Do you have any pre-ritual?
My pre-ritual is that I try as much as possible to get enough sleep before I go for my Gigs. I drink a lot of water. Even before I became a brand ambassador for the energy drink, Supa Kommando, they saw the energy in me, the energy drink that resonates with my style.
Aside from sleeping properly, I try to drink a lot of water. And I advise people that when you take a lot of enhancements, you would have to keep taking them. A lot of people think that I smoke, but I do not. I drink yes, but I don’t drink before I do my gigs though I’m an occasional drinker. Also, when I’m partying, I do a lot of facial communication because I also see my craft as therapeutic.
One of the stories that touched me was when a kid told me he came to my party and a lot of people were raving and having fun…he told me he was going to commit suicide that night but somehow, I maintained eye contact with him and he’s well now. I see my crowd as therapy. I get happy when I can lift a soul and when people lose themselves at my party. I love it when I come to perform, there is an entrance. I also like it when I am coming, you feel like I’m coming to give you a show. I was hyper as a child and it’s evident now. Everything about me is energy and it has to be good energy. When you are around me, you have to be happy.
You are one of the popular OAPs in Nigeria, what sets you apart from the others?
Firstly, humility to learn, when I see someone better than me, I pause and I want to learn. I can learn from a child. Learning is one of the things that have kept me up every single time. Also, being friendly and keeping an open mind has helped me a lot. Although, people judge me a lot because of my personality. Secondly, I earned it because I had to work for it from scratch. I also move with time. Staying grounded, humility to learn, and moving with time helped me a lot. Sometimes I see my peers grow and stay there, but I do not want to be like that. I just want to keep growing and growing and if you notice, you see a lot of younger people around me because I believe there is a lot to learn from them.
We are in a fast-paced world, what do you think is the future of Radio? Where do you see radio in the next 10 years?
If you are not digitally moving your brand, you are most likely going to be stuck. Technology is evolving, but in Nigeria, we are not there yet. I think we are still very traditional here. You must be ready to evolve alongside your brand because there will be a time when the traditional way will not work anymore. If you don’t catch up, you will be left behind. Although people would still find their satisfaction traditionally, things are still evolving. Even down to how we bank, it’s still technology. There will be a time when traditional things will go extinct. That’s why you would see people rather stream music on their phones than tune in to listen to someone. Personally, for me to listen to someone, that person has to be interesting. The attention span has been shared with so many people like Spotify, Apple Music, boom play, podcasts, and so on. We are now gauging our engagement on people who drive in traffic or just want to tune in, It’s not like before.
A lot of things have also been watered down…there are a lot of people I do not even listen to. There was a time I was listening to a radio station and I was like how did this person become an OAP, the standards have reduced a lot. Before becoming an OAP on a radio station, you have to do an internship of not less than six months.
Do you think hype men are getting the recognition they deserve?
First, I think we should have awards that recognise music managers and give them the credit they deserve.
Secondly, when it comes to music, the Headies Awards focus on music, but hype is a type of music as well. We can’t totally say hype is a genre, but we can also infuse it as a type of music, but certainly not as prominent as other genres. What hype should have as a category for the Headies is a ‘Special Recognition’ because it’s entertainment that is in every space you find in music.
It is now a genre that has grown. It’s like an entertainment that started from nowhere. There is no nightlife where you do not find a hype man. Even a conductor, a pastor, and an Imam, are all hype men. I think with what hype has done in the last 5 to 10 years, there should be a sort of special recognition from the Headies’ Award. There’s hardly any club, parties, or weddings where you go without finding a hype man. You can rock a party now with just a DJ and a hype man. Although it’s dicey, hyping is a type of music. When I started to hype nine years ago, there was nothing like hype then and it’s still thriving now.
Do you think influencers should use their social media pages as a platform to advocate for societal change regardless of the consequences?
There is a concept of choice. The concept of choice starts with the way you lay your bed is how you lie on it. It’s also necessary that we learn to read the room as well and this doesn’t stop anyone’s franchise. As an entertainer, I’d rather advocate for change or hope. Voting for example, I would like people to understand that what is good for the goose might not be good for the gander. Going through the basic social studies we had in school, everyone has a basic civic responsibility, such as singing the anthem or respecting the national flag. Well, I as a person would rather read the room and feel the pulse of people. So speaking of societal change, I would say we should do things as responsible people. I might not agree with your policy, but at the end of the day, it’s your personal choice. Nigerians are in a place where everybody is touchy and we should also recognize that things are hard. If I was an advocate for anything, I would rather use a level of emotional intelligence. I could support someone but I also want to preach a legacy that everyone will be able to align with. We need to start talking about governance and not making certain people feel attacked for voting for their choice of candidates.
How do you handle people calling you names on social media?
There was a time when people would insult me and I would not reply to them. I started internalising it and it affected me. People see us as entertainers and forget that we are human beings. I am a human being before anything…being a public figure is a lifestyle. If you hit me where it hurts, I would retaliate. If you come for me, I come for you and sometimes I block you off. There is no justification for bullying, don’t hurt people.
How are you able to blend perfectly with the younger generation?
I keep an open mind, and I also have the humility to learn. The oldest person where I currently work is 30 years old, so I always have a lot to learn from the younger folks. I see new stuff and I always want to try them out. For example, I opened my mind to anime, and I enjoy them now. I always try as much as possible to stay in a space where I am respected while acquiring knowledge. I also have conversations with them, sit and gist with them and I pick up things…I keep them around because that’s the only way you can be abreast of what is going on.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to go into hype?
First of all, look good, you don’t have to buy the most expensive thing but look good and be presentable. Also, preaching love, and competition is healthy… You can be like your mentors, but learn something different and have your style. Keep an open mind and think outside the box.
